Port and treatment update

I went to MSKCC for blood work today and to get my port implantation and treatment schedule. My port will be implanted on an outpatient basis on Thursday, January 10 at MSKCC. It's the old routine of not knowing what time the procedure will be done until the evening prior, but I'll be in and out the same day.

My treatment schedule, assuming I have no problems tolerating Gemcitabine, will be as follows: January 18: have blood drawn and meet with the oncologist; after blood tests are complete, have treatment over 90 minutes; get a band-aid and go to the office. This should take about four hours. January 25: have blood drawn; after blood tests are complete, have treatment over 90 minutes; get my band-aid and go to work. This should take about three hours. February 1: off. This is considered one cycle, and Dr. Keohan's nurse, Kelly, estimates I will have about three cycles before the next scan is done to see what progress I've made.

This weekend will be busy with final wrapping and some house cleaning, which hasn't be done since before vacation. We plan to catch up with friends over the next several days and will spend Christmas day mainly at home, hopefully watching movies and relaxing. My mom will arrive on the 29th or 30th and spend New Year's Eve with us. I'm not looking forward to giving her this news, but didn't want to do it unless she was going to be with us for a few days. Wish me luck.

We are sending out our warmest wishes (along with a big hug) for a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!